CANTON, Ohio — Sean Goe, a Stark County man who was found guilty in the murder of his 24-year-old girlfriend, Raychel Sheridan, has been sentenced to serve 29 years to life in prison.
“Mr. Goe, you sold your soul to the devil," Stark County Common Pleas Court Judge Frank Forchione said after announcing his decision on sentencing.
The judge said this case was "without a doubt the most brutal murder that I've seen."
"It’s appalling. It’s heartbreaking," Judge Forchione continued. "Raychel Sheridan was beaten so severely that the sheriff deputy who saw her body couldn’t identify her based on her own photo.”
Judge Forchione also labeled Goe as "morally bankrupt" with "no fiber of decency."
"Displaying the lowest level for human life, you then wrapped the body in a sheet and dumped it in a park near Mother Gooseland," the judge said. This is the person that at one point you claimed that you were in love with. Instead, you threw her in the trash like a piece of garbage.”
We streamed the entire sentencing hearing, which you can watch in full below:
CASE DETAILS
The Stark County Sheriff’s Office says it was 12:32 p.m. on July 2 when deputies were called to the 4100 block of Orchard Dale Drive NW in Plain Township “in reference to a missing woman” who had been identified as Sheridan.
“While at the scene, deputies observed a maroon Jeep Liberty, known to be registered to Raychel, traveling on Guilford Ave NW in Plain Township,” according to a previous press release from the Stark County Sheriff’s Office.
Upon stopping the vehicle, deputies said they made contact with the driver -- identified as Goe -- who then allegedly fled on foot.
Goe was arrested early the next morning by the Canton Police Department at a homeless shelter on active warrants for burglary, grand theft of a firearm and domestic violence.
“As a result of the search warrant executed at the apartment of Raychel Sheridan and Sean Goe, evidence was recovered indicating foul play,” according to the Stark County Sheriff’s Office. “Detectives have determined that Sheridan was murdered inside the apartment.”
Sheridan’s body was found by Canton sanitation workers around 9:24 a.m. on July 3 in a park within the southwest area of the city, authorities said.
Goe was ultimately found guilty by a jury on Nov. 8 of the following charges:
- Two counts of murder
- Felonious assault
- Tampering with evidence
- Gross abuse of a corpse
STATEMENTS IN COURT
Before the judge announced sentencing, a few people addressed the courtroom -- including Sheridan's mother, Lisa.
Sheridan's mother
“Sean, to begin, I would just like to say that you have hurt us more than anyone else could have," she said. "You have taken one of the greatest joys in our lives. She was a true sunflower in our darkest days. You have murdered our baby girl. My question is, why would you do this to someone that loved you, who wanted to help you through your own personal battles? She stood by you regardless of what you did to her. When you had no one else, she truly loved you. Just thinking of this makes me sick to my stomach. Truth be told, we had our own issues when she was growing up, but it made us stronger. There is no greater bond than that of a parent and a child. You brutally stole that from us. It won’t bring Raychel back, but you have crushed all of our hearts. We won’t be able to see her happily married. I used to smile, but you have taken all of that away. What you have done to us is truly evil. I hope that you spend the rest of your miserable life in prison. At least your life and your family will get to visit with you. I truly am so angry that I don’t think I will ever be able to forgive you, and I hope that Jesus will.”
She then held two photos of Sheridan and showed them to Goe.
Goe's mother
Goe's mother, Renee Graham, also offered a statement prior to the judge's decision.
“I would like to express my deepest and most heartfelt apologies to Raychel’s family," she said. "I cannot begin to understand the pain and grief that you are enduring, and there are no words that can ease the hurt or bring back what has been taken from you. No matter the circumstances, no one should have to experience the kind of loss that you are facing. My family and I are deeply sorry for the pain that my son’s actions have caused. We love Raychel. She was a part of our holidays and weekly Sunday dinners for the last three years and the absence of her at our table is heartbreaking. She will forever be missed by us. I recognize the devastation that his choices have brought into your lives, and I will carry the weight of that sadness with me always. I can only hope that in time you can find some measure of peace and healing. My thoughts are with you, and again I am deeply sorry for your loss.”
She then spoke about her son's early years, which she said "are critical in understanding the person he is today."
“Before he came into our family, my son endured an incredibly difficult and traumatic childhood," she said. "He spent time in multiple foster homes, far more than any child should have to endure in such a short period. The instability, the uncertainty and the emotional toil of being moved around so frequently had a profound impact on him. In addition to the upheaval of those constant moves, he also faced abuse and neglect in some of the homes -- experiences no child should have to go through."
She said these early years "left deep scars on his spirit."
"And though we tried to provide him with a loving, stable environment after his adoption, the trauma he experienced before coming to us was something that would take years to heal. His birth parents struggled with addiction and mental health issues, and the pain of those experiences only compounded what he had already been through. It’s no excuse for the changes he’s made later in life, but it is an explanation for the pain and confusion he carried with him. The drugs that took a hold of him were a way of coping with the deep inner turmoil, and they led him down a path that has caused harm to himself and others."
She then asked the court for mercy, saying her son has always had a kind heart.
"He was always the one to help others, especially the elderly and children. He always tried to be the person who made those around him feel valued and cared for. I believe in him. He is not defined by the mistakes he has made. He is someone who has faced unimaginable hardships and is still capable of healing and turning his life around. I ask the court for mercy and to recognize that my son is a person who is shaped by a history of trauma, but who also has potential to change. He deserves the chance to rebuild his life, and with the right support I know he can become the person he was meant to be.”